Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 9
Jehu had killed both Joram, the king of northern and central Israel, and Ahaziah, the king of Judah.
Jehu would not allow anyone to bury Joram. He left the body on the ground in a place where wild dogs would tear it apart. That was God’s judgment against Joram, Jehu said (9:25-26).
However, Ahaziah’s servants did not want that to happen to Ahaziah’s body. It seems that they offered Jehu a powerful argument to give a proper grave to Ahaziah. The father of Ahaziah’s mother was King Ahab, the wicked king against whose family Jehu was acting in judgment. However, the father of Ahaziah’s father was Jehoshaphat. Although Jehoshaphat made some serious mistakes, he himself loyally served God (2 Chronicles 20:31-32). Therefore, for the honour of such a good and holy king as Jehoshaphat, his grandson should have a proper grave (2 Chronicles 22:9). Even Elisha had agreed to see Joram in order to give honour to Jehoshaphat (3:14).
So, Ahaziah’s servants asked for the body, not to give honour to Ahaziah, but for the honour of Jehoshaphat. Jehu agreed to this. So, they brought back the body on a chariot (a military vehicle that horses pulled).
They took the body to the oldest part of Jerusalem, called the City of David. This was where the royal graves were. Jehoshaphat’s grave was also here (1 Kings 22:50), so they buried Ahaziah here, near to his grandfather’s grave.
After Ahaziah’s funeral, no other member of Ahab’s family would receive an honourable funeral.
Next part: Jezebel's plan to control Jehu (2 Kings 9:30)
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